Thomas Bandar

Viola

Biography

Thomas maintains parallel careers as an arts administrator, violist, and music educator. Through his successive leadership roles at the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Curtis Institute of Music—where he served as Associate Dean—he has shepherded an entire generation of gifted young musicians through their music education and transition to life as professional musicians. In 2017 he was appointed Executive Director of Lutheran Music Program.

In recent seasons he has been a faculty member at the Crested Butte Music Festival and performed in recital across the East Coast, including appearances with Curtis on Tour, Curtis’s signature touring initiative. A regular performer with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Thomas has also been a member of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Chamber Symphony, and Cleveland Opera Orchestra.

Thomas has served on the faculty of Texas Lutheran University and been a clinician and guest artist at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Texas-Austin, Gonzaga University, and Eastern Washington University. A dedicated chamber musician, he has taught at the Austin Chamber Music Center and California Summer Music, and founded and directed chamber music programs for Youth Music Monterey and the Holy Names Music Center.

Thomas holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Denver, with additional studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Aspen Music Festival and School.